Forensic description of cotton fabric damage caused by 8X57MM cartridges equipped with expanding bullets shot at various distances

The paper presents the results of experimental study of the damage of cotton fabric caused by 8X57mm cartridges with expanding bullets from different manufacturers shot at various distances and the data obtained for estimating impact range for shooting factors. Conclusions. The experimental shots using 8x57 mm cartridges equipped with expanding bullets fired from 1, 2, 2.5, 3 and 5 meters showed that the three types of bullets from the different manufacturers differ in expansion; morphological features of damage to the white fabric have been shown to be markedly different. With Geco bullets, it was established that upon impact they fragment forming two or more fragments. The resulting defects in the fabric were round or of irregular round shape, with the central defect of the fabric having the diameter of 0.9 to 0.7 cm. Experimental shots from 1 m caused complete central defect of the fabric. As the shooting distance increased, the number and length of the threads protruding into the shot hole grew. RWS bullets were shown to expand upon impact considerably increasing in diameter and forming a trifolium or quadrifolium tightly held by the core. The resulting defects of the fabric were round-shaped with the central defect of the fabric having 0.9 to 0.7 cm in diameter. Shot holes made from 1 m had threads protruding into the holes with considerably separated fibers. Shots from 2, 3 and 5 meters resulted in complete central defect of the fabric, the holes being rimmed with threads of the fabric from the four sides forming a square, and their length increased with increase in the shooting distance. For Sellier&Веllot bullets, it was found that upon impact they deform, increasing in size. Defects caused to the cotton fabric were of irregular round shape or square shape with 0.7x0.7-1x0.7 cm central defects of the fabric. Isolated threads with considerably separated fibers protruded into the shot holes. Assessment of the range of impact of shot factors allowed establishing that additional fac- tors, in particular unburnt powder particles travel 2.5 m in experimental shots for all three types of cartridges. Using contact-diffusion method of color prints, such metals as copper and lead were detected in various amounts. X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy detected zinc, lead, copper and iron in the regions of damage and estimated their percentages for defects caused by various types of 8x57 mm hunting cartridges containing expanding bullets.